I have always believed in the age old saying “honesty is the best policy”. Sticking to this adage, I must admit that I am truly lazy, perhaps even ignorant, when it comes to reading the minute, fine, print that is characteristically common with almost manufacturer provided user manual.
More often than not, I quickly stash away these manuals in a safe, far to reach area for future reference (and I rarely remember to make use of them later on!). Instead of straining my handsome eyes, I always consult the internet. This way, I always get additional tips and tricks on how to work any of my new appliances.
Seeing as I have made it my life mission to introduce my fellow coffee lovers to the world of home brewing, I realize that my mission would be futile if I did not offer the same type of assistance to coffee brewing newbies or individuals who have a basic idea of how to work a percolator (but would like to read through a clear how-to/ instructional brewing guide that is specific to the Farberware percolator 12 Cup (if you have not yet heard of this nifty coffee maker, kindly Click HERE and check out a complete review of the Farberware FCP412 Percolator, 12-Cup, Stainless Steel).
Farberware Percolator 12 Cup Instructions: Important Brewing Safety Precautions
Contents
Rather than getting straight into the brewing process details, I highly recommend that you take a moment to read through the following safety precautions first. This way, you will be sure to avoid most of the dim-witted brewing mistakes that often lead to yucky tasting brews, health hazards such as scalding, or lead to the early demise of your brand new Farberware percolator. Considering that the unit makes a total of 12 cups, can you imagine how much coffee grinds you would waste if you made a simple but very damaging mistake?
Worse still, imagine how bad you would feel if you made a mistake and your new unit suddenly quit on you? (I can, because I have made these silly mistakes before!)
- Keep the unit away from children ESPECIALLY when it is actively engaged in its brewing process (DUH!).
Although this particular safety precaution is obvious to most people, it is very important to state for several reasons. Most of these reasons relate to the fact that the unit is electrically powered whereas the remaining few relate to understandable scalding risks. To illustrate the need for mentioning this obvious safety precaution, I shall use my personal experience.
When I bought my first electric coffee percolator, that is, the Hamilton Beach Stainless-Steel 12-Cup Electric Percolator Model No: 40616
(Click HERE to check out a full review of the unit), I had my 7 and 9 years old nieces over. Of course, I did not put it away from their reach (stupidly thinking that they were old enough to be trusted but they were not! They decided to “borrow” the unit and use it as a play toy). After an hour of play in the backyard, my new unit was returned full of mud, twigs, and leaves! This included the very hard to clean funnel/ stem. Worse still, the extension cord had been tugged at so severely, it was rendered useless!
- Keep the unit’s power cord, power plugs, and plastic base dry. These components should never be immersed in water.
- To prevent electric shock and other health hazards, use only the attachment accessories provided with the unit’s purchase or only those recommended by the unit’s manufacturer.
- To prevent scalding risks (and avoid having to clean up a large java mess in your kitchen), it is vital that you NEVER EVERY try to uncover the unit’s lid while it is actively percolating a brew.
Farberware Percolator 12 Cup Instructions (Tips and Tricks Included): How to Work your Percolator like a Pro!
Phase 1- Setting the unit up for Brewing
The very first step you need to take in order to make a fantastic brew using your Farberware FCP412 Percolator, 12-Cup, Stainless Steel (Click HERE to view a full review of the unit) is to disassemble the unit by removing the unit’s cover, basket (including its spreader), and the pump tube.
Thereafter, fill the unit’s empty pot with COLD water for brewing. Be sure to stick to the measurement indicators (marked by ingrained lines and numbers located on the sides of the pot’s interior) as pouring in too much water will only lead to the production of a very weak coffee brew.
The second step involves placing the coffee grinds into the unit’s coffee basket. This process requires that you first place the coffee basket on the unit’s pump tube.
Next, place your preferred brand of coffee grinds into the basket (also remember to stick to the measurement indicator markings as they correspond with the water measurement indicators) and replace the assembled pump tube and basket into the unit’s pot by setting it securely into the unit’s Center Well. Cover the unit’s basket with the spreader and snap the cover shut.
Your unit is now set up for the brewing process.
Setting Up Tips and Tricks
-When placing coffee grinds into the unit’s basket, highly recommend that you first wet it slightly. This way, you ensure that none of the tiny bits of coffee grinds (which typically escape from the basket) will wind up in your fresh brew.
-If you do not wish to follow the unit’s indicator markings when pouring in brewing water or when placing the coffee grinds in the basket, you can use the general percolating rule which states that one cup- which is 5 ounces of water- requires two tablespoons of grinds.
Phase 2- Brewing your Java
Once the unit is reassembled with all brewing ingredients securely contained in the unit, attach its base to the pot. Thereafter, plug the unit’s power cord into the electric outlet and the unit will begin its brewing percolating action within seconds.
After a complete percolating cycle, your unit ought to automatically shut off its brewing action while simultaneously turning on its automatic keep warm feature. At this point, all you have to do is pour your fresh brew into your mug and savour your devilishly delicious cup of Joe!
Brewing Tips and Tricks
-In order to avoid unit damage as well as brewing health hazards, make sure that the electrical outlet’s voltage is 120 (it is worth mentioning that this voltage is typical of most household AC wall outlets).
-To ensure that the resulting brew has a spectacular flavour, I advise that you remove the unit’s spreader, basket and pump tube as soon as brewing is complete.